Preceded by Carlos Howard Preceded by Bartolome Morales | Name Enrique White | |
Succeeded by Francisco de Paula Gelabert Profession Military officer and Governor of Florida Died April 13, 1811, St. Augustine, Florida, United States | ||
Succeeded by Juan Jose de Estrada | ||
Enrique White (1741 - April 13, 1811) was an Irish-born Spanish soldier who served as Governor of West Florida (May 1793 – May 1795) and of East Florida (June 1796 - March 1811).
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Biography
Enrique (Henry) White was born in Dublin, Ireland. He later emigrated to Spain, where he served the Spanish Crown from age 22 until his death. The young man joined the Spanish Royal Army, eventually rising to the rank of colonel. In 1779 he was appointed commander of the third battalion of the Louisiana Infantry Regiment, with the title Sargento Mayor (Sergeant Major). and served several times in that capacity, attaining the rank of brigadier.
On May 15, 1793, White was appointed acting Governor of West Florida, and remained in the position until June 1795.
White was appointed Governor of East Florida in the spring of 1796, and arrived in its capital, Saint Augustine, on June 5; he assumed his duties on June 20. Construction of the cathedral of St. Augustine was completed the next year in 1797.
New constructions was encouraged in St. Augustine during White's governorship, with numerous new houses being built, while the military readiness of the city and its fortifications were strengthened. The garrison's morale improved as well with better conditions. White was very strict in granting the concession of lands from the public domain, and often enforced the laws more rigorously than the legal code itself would allow.
White fell ill in 1800, and was temporarily replaced by Lt. Col. Bartolomé Morales, who had previously served as acting governor of East Florida (March 1796 - June 1796), accompanied by Gonzalo Zamorano, Commissary of the army and accountant of the royal finance. White recovered from his illness in 1801 and resumed his office, remaining in that position until March 1811, when he fell ill again and died on April 13 of that year in St. Augustine.
Personal life
Governor White never married. He owned several slaves, who gained their freedom when he died.